Backpacking trip through Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks at the end of August 2016 (August 26 – 30) for five days, four nights. Participants: Mike, Jay, Kristen, John (part-time) and Juergen. Overall, a trip through a lot of forest with two days of spectacular views through Deadman Canyon and over Elizabeth Pass. My backpack was about 45 pounds (not sure what everybody else’s weight was…) on day one, heavy enough despite not carrying a full-size camera for the first time.

Our trip started at Lodgepole in Sequoia National Park with our first destination Twin Lakes (about 6 miles). We got a late start around 10:00 but, after seeing all of the “icons” on somebody’s car dashboard, we knew this would be a good trip. After all, we had Jesus, the pope, Frankenstein’s monster, Pokémon and a couple of aliens looking after us. Kristen saw a cute little snake on the trail while I took a 2-minute nap. We arrived at Twin Lakes around 5pm and set up camp. There were quite a few people at the lake but it wasn’t crowded. It would be by far the most people we got to see until we got to Bearpaw Meadow, our last night of the trip. We set up camp, had a good dinner (no fires allowed) and went to bed early.

The next morning, John decided he wasn’t feeling it, and returned to Lodgepole while the rest of the crew went over Silliman Pass (10,479 feet), passed Ranger Lake and crossed a couple of low flowing creeks, until we finally decided to stay at a creek with water actually in it. Water is not always a sure thing this time of the year and we didn’t know how much further we would make it that day. We had a small fire in the morning, while we enjoyed our coffee.

At Roaring River Ranger Station, we filled up with water and took the trail into Deadman Canyon. This is where the really pretty part of our trip slowly started emerging. Headed slowing towards the Pass, this meant the whole day was an uphill battle, slow and tiring, but beautiful.

The fourth day started around 7:30 on the trail and was by far the hardest. First, we had to go up 2,500 feet over Elizabeth Pass (11,375 feet), then go down 3,000 feet on the other side after which we had to go up 1,000 feet and down another 1,000 feet before getting to Bearpaw Meadow High Sierra Camp. The three-hour trail up Elizabeth Pass was mainly in the shade early in the morning but was pretty strenuous. We took a long brake on top and enjoyed the great views in both directions and Jay’s energy jumping up and down on the top, attempting to get a funny photo.

The trail down on the other side was hard to follow and very steep at the beginning. Fortunately, Jay had been there before and knew where to point us. We were more than happy to take a dip into the creek on the other side before heading to Bearpaw Meadow (7,800 feet). We had two options, take either the longer trail in the sun, which was not as steep or take the shorter but steeper trail and was mainly in the shade. We decided to take the longer trail but discovered after a mile and Jay’s frantic whistles (he stayed behind for some pictures), that we accidently ended up on the shorter and steeper trail. Apparently, the sound of those emergency whistles doesn’t travel that far and sounds like whistling marmots. At least, that’s the story we are sticking to.

Finally, we made it to Bearpaw Meadow. Not the nicest location for a camp since it is a big campsite and quite a few people had set up camp already. It’s dusty and hidden in the forest. We found a decent location for three tents and I put my backpack on a tree stump to rest. Putting up the tent was our next task, so I made the attempt to pick up my backpack, which is when all hell broke loose. First, I only noticed a couple of wasp flying around me and I wasn’t paying too much attention to them but suddenly that number multiplied to 40 -50. And they were in full attack mode. I had their full attention and nothing would distract them from me. Kristen just yelled run and that’s what I did. Three of them dug into my boots and two stung me into the back of my knees. Luckily, the further away I got the fewer attacked me but man, that was scary. Apparently, I am not allergic, but either way it was definitely no fun. They are focused little suckers. After that, my evening was short because I wanted to hide from the attacking insects and sleep safe in my tent, at least safe from wasps. Mike slept the whole trip just outside without a tent but I was glad I had this refuge that night.

The next morning started early again towards Crescent Meadow, about a 11-mile hike, perhaps more depending on how you read the map. We came across two juvenile black bears that weren’t bothered by us and had the best lunch ever at the Wuksachi Lodge. There is no better tasting food than having salad and a burger (and a beer) after getting off the trail after a five-day hike.